UA Poetry Center part of national coalition that received $1M grant (via Tucson)

The UA’s Poetry Center was part of a national alliance awarded a $1 million grant that will help pay for programs, administration costs and fellowships for the next four years.

The Poetry Coalition involves more than 20 independent poetry organizations, including the University of Arizona’s center.

The grant is one of the largest investments in poetry made by the private, New York-based Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which promotes the arts and humanities.

“The grant will bring visibility to the value poets and poetry bring to culture,” said Tyler Meier, executive director of the UA Poetry Center. The center was a founding member of the Poetry Coalition.

Each organization within the coalition will receive $10,000 over the term of the grant to create a program on a common theme each March, Meier said.